2 Timothy 2:23 (WEB)

Passage

But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife.

Nearby Context

2 Timothy 2:21 If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work.

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife.

2 Timothy 2:24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient,

2 Timothy 2:25 in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "refuse", "foolish", "ignorant", "questionings", "knowing", "generate", and "strife". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "refuse" and "foolish", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Flee from youthful lusts but pursue righteousness..." into verse 24's "The Lord s servant must not quarrel...", so "refuse" and "foolish" belong inside that flow. In 2 Timothy context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "refuse" and "foolish" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.